Saturday, August 28, 2010

MATRYOSHKA MATRESHKAS

MatryoshkaThe nesting dolls that you see here are made by a group of artists in Moscow, Russia. Russian craftsmen have been making nesting dolls since the mid-1700s. This lovely and entertaining art form has won a multitude of awards and hearts worldwide.The raw material used in making the dolls are Lime logs, which are air dried for several years. Every piece passes through as many as 15 turning operations. The turning is all done by hand, and by eye. No measurements are involved. All of these operations require great skill and patience. The doll is then allowed to dry before being primed and painted.These dolls also make a wonderful and educational toy for infants and toddlers, developing their coordination skills and the sense of shape and size."Matreshkas" carry a rich tradition and always turn into family heirlooms.